Trapless steam condensate system



June 28, 1960 A. G. ARBoGAsT TRAPLEss STEAM coNDENsA'rE SYSTEM 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1957 June 28, 1960 A. G. ARBoGAsT TRAPLESS STEAM CONDENSATE SYSTEM 4f F/G. 4.

5/ fd 43 E /\//x/\/`/ /7 J/ ////1 United States Patent O TRAPLESS STEAM CONDENSATE SYSTEM Alva G. Arbogast, P.0. Box 1193, Charleston, W. Va.

Filed Sept. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 683,901

3 Claims. (Cl. 237-9) This invention relates to steam utilization systems, and more particularly to a method and means for removing steam condensate from steamusing equipment.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved system for removing steam condensate from steam-utilizing equipment of the type employing the latent heat of steam for the operation thereof, the system involving simple components, requiring no steam traps, and providing a higher rate of heat transfer to a steam-utilizing device than can -be obtained in a system employing steam traps. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved system for removing steam condensate from steam utilizing equipment, the system being arranged so that it provides positive control of condensate drainage, thereby permitting a controlled amount of steam to be withdrawn with the condensate and assuring complete drainage of the steam condensate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved system for removing steam condensate from steam-utilizing equipment, the system involving relatively inexpensive components, being reliable in operation, and assuring maximum rate of heat transfer to the equipment, whereby the equipment may be eciently employed for performing process work requiring heat transfer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method and means for removing steam condensate from steam-utilizing equipment of the type employing the latent heat of steam, the means being arranged so that it requires a minimum amount of maintenance, has high sensitivity to the presence of live steam in the condensate drain line, and is especially useful in process work, such as plastic moulding, air heating at high temperatures, contact heating of moving material over a heated platen or roll, or the like, or in other operations involving the use of extremely high steam pressures, the apparatus being characterized by the absence of steam traps and therefore being relieved of maintenance problems ordinarily connected with extremely high pressure steam traps. Y Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved system for removing steam condensate from steam-utilizing equipment, the system providing close control over the utilization of the steam and arranged so that it prevents excessive steam waste.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a schematic View of a steam-utilizing system constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention. l

, Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken through the differential pressure control valve employed in the system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through one of the restriction elements of the system on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

ICS

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken through the pressure impulse amplifying device employed in the system of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l illustrates a typical steam-utilizing system arranged in accordance with the present invention. Designated at 11eis a high pressure steam line leading from a source of high pressure steam, said steam line being connected to a steam header 12 through a manually controlled valve 13. Designated at 14 is an exhaust header which is connected to the condensate drainage line 15 leading to a suitable vented condensate receiver not shown.

Designated at 16 are a plurality of steam-utilizing devices, for example, heating devices employed in process work, said devices utilizing the latent heat of the high pressuresteam admitted thereto. Thus, the heat transfer devices 16 are supplied with live steam from the header 12 through inlet conduits 17, as shown in Figure l, the exhaust steam leaving the devices 16 through discharge conduits 18. The discharge conduits 18 are connected to the exhaust steam header 14 through respective restriction devices 19 which comprise sleeve members 20 provided with internal transverse walls 21 formed centrally with a restriction 22, as shown in Figure 3, defining an orice, the orice being calibrated or dimensioned to handle the maximum quantity of condensate that its associated steam-utilizing device 16 can produce in a given period of time under a predetermined pressure dierential across the orifice.

The aforesaid pressure differential across the oriices 22 is controlled by a pressure differential responsive valve designated generally at 23, said valve being connected in the Vcondensate drainline 15 and being controlled in accordance with the difference in pressures in the steam line 11 (and steam header 12) and the condensate drainage line 15.

As shown in Figure 2, the pressure dlerential-responsive Valve 23 comprises a frame 24 to one end of which is secured a diaphragm housing 25 and to the other end of which is secured a plunger valve housing 26. Housing 26 comprises a first chamber 27 and a second chamber 2S separated from the lirst chamber by a wall 29 in which are provided valve apertures receiving a plunger member 30, said plunger member being provided with valve elements which are adapted to seat in the apertures in the wall 29 to close off said wall and seal space 28 from space -27 responsive to the axial movement of the plunger in an upward direction, as viewed in Figure 2. In the specic arrangement shown in Figure 2, the wall 29 comprises top and bottom sections, each formed with an aperture, and the plunger member 30 comprises top and bottom valve elements 31 and 31 engageable in corresponding apertures in the top and bottom portions of the wall 29 so as to provide a double sealing action. The valve is provided with a supporting rod 32 which extends slidably through a bearing sleeve 33 mounted in the frame 24 and provided at its bottom end with a ange 34. A coiled spring 35 surrounds the lower portion of the rod 32 below the flange 34, bearing between flange 34 and a collar 36 mounted on the rod, biasing the rod downwardly, as viewed in Figure 2, namely, toward a position wherein the valve is open. Y

The lower portionof the rodv32 extends slidably and sealingly through a suitable sealing bushing 37, into the diaphragm housing 25, and is secured to the central portion of a flexible diaphragm 38 mounted in housing 25 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. "Ihus,'the diaphragm 38 divides the diaphragm housing 25 into an upper chamber 39 and a lower chamber 40.

'Ihe lower chamber 40 of diaphragm housing 25 is connected by a conduit 41 to one end of the high presthe Vaforesaid amplifying device 43. u Y Y u ,Y Basically, the apparatus is arranged toroperate in ac,

Y sure steam supply headerlZ, whereby the pressure of the live steamY in the header 12 opposes the action'of the Vcoiled spring 35. The upperchamber 39 is connected to the cqdensate ,drainage linelllS by @enduit-,42 tbrgveh a pressure impulse amprfyagdevieaa'se einem@ ber 39 is exposed tothe pressure 'in the line lftljrough cordance Withtthediierence in pressure betwee the steam supply linev 11 and, the Y condensate' drain Vline ftheY difference in pressure betweentha't of thesteam inV the header 12 `and the steam in thecon'densate line 15.4

The general operation of 'the system is as follows: Steam enters the kheader 12 from the high pressure line 11 and passes through the steam-utilizing devices 16, Whereing the latent heat of the steam is extracted to perform Vthe required process work. As a result of the heat transfer, condensate will form, the condensate being discharged,l

from the devices 16 through their discharge conduits 18 and passing through the calibrated oriicjes 22 of the restriction devices i9 into the exhaustVV header 14, and

thence to the condensate drainage line 15 and through the` top portion'of the pressure-responsive valve' Vdevice A23 to the vented condensate receiver employed with the ,system. Therefore, steam condensate and'V .aV controlled amount of steam iiow from the devices y16 through the orilices 22 into the condensate header 14 and through the condensate drainage line 15,. The Vsteam vcondensate and a controlled amount ofV steam pass through the top pordensate; 'Ihe'pressure-r'esponsive valve device 23 is adjusted to allow complete drainage of the condensate plus a small amount of steam.,Y Adjustment of the valver23Y is accomplished by adjusting the position ofthe spring bearing member 33, which is threadedly engaged in the intermediate portion of frameV 24, as clearly shown in Figure 2, so that its ,p cssitionV may be readily,V changed,- and so that the biasing forceon the spring 35 may be readily adjusted. fj Y Spring 35 normallybias'esthe.valve plungerY rodr32 downwardly, as viewed in Figure 2, 'na1nely, t'warda position wherein the valve is open;` V'lillepressure of the live stearnvin the header 12 acts 1in' the bottom', Chamber 40 in'opposition tothe springfSS, Vthereby,t'e'ndin-gto'` urge the` valvefplunger V32jupwardly, namely, toward YV'closing position of 'the valve. YThe pressure i'ri Vth'e'chaniberY 40 is opposed by the pressure in the' chamber .39,`

YgaragesA t discharge line 15 and contains a nozzle member 51 having the reduced discharge spout portion 52 located substantially axially in the body 50 and discharging down-stream,

namely, toward the condensate receiver. The conduit 42 is connected to the body 43 at a point laterally adjacent to the discharge end of the nozzle spout element 52, as is clearly shown in Figure 4, and is thus exposed to the pressure in the area laterally adjacent to the discharge end Y' of the nozzle spout 52. jThe direction of ow of the fluid is to the right, as viewed in Figure v4. When the uidentersthe nozzle Vmember 51 its` oyv is accelerated by the passage thereof through the reduced spout portion 52, and the kinetic energy of Vthe fluid discharged from Y the spout portioniSZ causes a"ven'a contracta in the zone surrounding the tip of the nozzle element'52, thus creating a zone of substantially reduced pressure around the nozzle tip. This reduced pressure is sensed by the A upper chamber 39 of, the diaphragm housing 25 through the conduitY 42, causing a more YrapidY response of the valve 23 to changes of lthe lluid in the condensate drainage line 15 than would be otherwise obtained. For example, Yassume that the condensate is iowing from the steam-utilization devices 16 at'the desired normal rate,

whereby the desired pressure differential exists between chamber 40 and Ychamber 39Y of 4the pressure dilrerentialresponsive valve 23. Should'live steam appear in the condensate drainage line V15 for any reason, the steam y, will pass through the nozzle device 51 and create a sudden decrease in pressure in the zone surrounding the nozle tip V52', which lwillrbe Ysensed by the upper diaphragm chamber 39 of'valve 23. VThe decrease in pressureV in Vchamber 39 thus acts towincrease the pressure differentialY acting "onl the valve, moving'the valve `,rod v32 upwardly toward closing position, and thus restricting system for thecollection and storing of the steam con- ,40

thetow in the condensate Vline 15. The Vvalve is thus caused Vto overtravel in response to` the impulse created by the vena contracta, Vwhereby the venas conti-acta t nolongei exists clueV to the-increased restriction in the condensate" drainage line 15 after which the valve 23 regains control at the desired' control point under the influence of the true pressuredifferential acrosslthe system,

' The pressure'impuls amplifyingdevice 43 thus pro-V vides closeandinstantaneous control of the system and prevents eircessiv YsteamV waste which'would otherwise result from sluggish control response. A n

As will be apparent 'from' the above description,` the calibrated orifices 22 are employed -in place of steam traps Y and their flow capacityiis controlledV by `the Vcliffferencein pressure acrossftheY orices asset up'by thepressure dif'-Y f'ere'ritialfrespon'sive control valve 23, in combination with the calibrated'fo'rili'c'es. Positive control of condensate drainage is provded, bythe adjustment of the valve 23,

Y asiboveV explained, Whichpermits a controlled,amcuintofV namely, by therpressure in the condensate drainageY line4 of the system. -lf more thanV the desiredarnout otfpres', sure is present in the condensatedrainage line 15, the

pressure in the upper diaphragm c h'anbe'r 39'i'r'lcrfeases,Vv

Y transfer from one'material to another.

s'tem to'be Y.vi/ithdrawn lwithpthe condensate, Vassuring complete ydrainage ofthe steam condensatie, IVThus,rassur ance is providedfor obtaining the maximum rate of heat transfer ina device`16 Tof the typeV employing the latent heat of steam for p'erformingprocess work requiring heat The pressure-responsive valve 231s conventional per se, and in itself for'ms'no part of thepresent invention. n

While a specicernbodiment of'an improvedtrapless t Vsteam condensate system has beendisclosed in the forethereby acting to movethelvalvetrod 32 downufa'rdlyfVw and increasingV the degreetofopening'Qi'henvalvet allowing the pressure in the condensate draina'gline 15 to bereduced, thereby increasing the pressure Vdiererx'tial across the orifices 22Hanl thusincreasingv thethrottling action` of said orifices, whereby tbe'prop'ortion of con?Y densate to vapor at th'edischarge side of the orices is increased, and'whereby the amountofjvapor inthe Vcondensate discharge headerV 14Y is consequently reduced to the desiredV permissibleiamount.

Y Y The Y pressure,impulse amplifying device 43 comprises a mainlconduit section 56 `connected in the condensate goingdescr'iption, it will bev understood that YVarious modifV rcations withinthev spirit'ofthe invention maydoccurrto those skilledjn the arti? Therefore, itfi'sintended .that no limitations beplacedV on the invention except as de iinedr by the 4scope of theappended claims.'

Whatisclaimedis: ,Y Y L l; In `a`sys'tenrof thcharaterdescribed; aV high pressure steam line,a steatnutiliz'ingdevicehavig au intake conduit and an enhaustlfcon'duit, meansA connectin'gthe t. intake conduitV to the stearn' line,- af condensate drainage line," conduitniean's connecting saide'rthaustfcondtiitto said drainage line, a restriction insaidlst-named conduitmeans, a nozzle element mounted in said drainage line and defining `a restriction therein adapted to develop a reduction in pressure at its discharge side responsive to the passage of llive steam through the nozzle element, a pressure-responsive valve mounted in said drainage line on the discharge side of said nozzle element, and means controlling said valve in accordance with the diierence between the pressure in the steam line and the pressure in the drainage line adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle element.

2. In a system ofthe character described, a high pressure steam line, a steam-utilizing device having an intake conduit and an exhaust conduit, means connecting the intake conduit to the steam line, a condensate drainage line, conduit means connecting said exhaust conduit to said drainage line, a restriction in said last-named conduit means, a nozzle element mounted in said drainage line and dening a restriction therein adapted to develop a reduction in pressure at its discharge side in accordance with the amount of -live steam passing through the nozzle element, a normally open pressure-responsive valve mounted in said drainage line on the discharge side of said nozzle element, and means controlling the degree of closing of said valve in accordance with the difference between the pressure in the steam line and the pressure in the drainage line laterally adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle element.

3. In a system of the character'described, a high pressure steam line, a steam-utilizing device having an intake conduit and an exhaust conduit, means connecting the intake conduit to the steam line, a condensate drainage line, conduit means connecting said exhaust conduit to said drainage line, a restriction in said last-named conduit means, a nozzle element mounted in said drainage line and delining -a restriction therein adapted to develop a reduction in pressure at its discharge side in accordance with the amount of live steam passing through the nozzle element, a normally open pressure-responsive valve mounted in said drainage line on the discharge side of said nozzle element and including a diaphragm chamber provided with a exible diaphragm constructed and arranged to control the degree of closure of the valve in accordance with the dilerence in pressures on the opposite sides of said diaphragm, a rst conduit connecting the portion of the diaphragm chamber on one side of said diaphragm to the high pressure steam line, and a second conduit connecting the portion of the diaphragm chamber on the opposite side of said diaphragm to said drainage line at a point laterally adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,047,622 Donnelly Dec. 17, 1912 1,679,215 Goldkamp July 31, 1928 1,697,343 Campbell Ian. 1, 1929 1,745,256 Groble Ian. 28, 1930 1,973,259 Kiefer Sept. 11, 1934 2,349,938 Burnette May 30, 1944 

